Dispensing device and methods

Abstract

A device for dispensing a product may comprise a container defining an opening, with the container being configured to contain a product and a retaining element mounted at least partially in the opening and defining a cavity configured to contain an amount of the product for dispensing. The device may further comprise a separating member separating a first region of the container from a second region of the container. The first region may be configured so that the product resides therein when the device is in an upright position and the second region may be disposed adjacent the opening. At least one first passage defined by the retaining element may have a position that defines a maximum amount of product capable of being contained in the cavity. At least one second passage defined by the retaining element may be in flow communication with the second region of the container and configured to permit passage of at least some product from the second region into the cavity. The separating member may be configured to permit one-way flow of product from the first region to the second region when the device is at least partially inverted from its upright position.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A device for dispensing a product, the device comprising: 
       a container defining an opening, the container being configured to contain a product;  
       a retaining element mounted at least partially in the opening and defining a cavity configured to contain an amount of the product for dispensing;  
       a separating member separating a first region of the container from a second region of the container, the first region being configured so that the product resides therein when the device is in an upright position and the second region being disposed adjacent the opening;  
       at least one first passage defined by the retaining element, the at least one first passage having a position that defines a maximum amount of product capable of being contained in the cavity; and  
       at least one second passage defined by the retaining element, the at least one second passage being in flow communication with the second region of the container and configured to permit passage of at least some product from the second region into the cavity,  
       wherein the separating member is configured to permit one-way flow of product from the first region to the second region when the device is at least partially inverted from its upright position.  
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one third passage is defined between the container and the separation member when the device is at least partially inverted, the third passage being configured to permit the flow of product from the first region to the second region. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the separation member element slopes downward in a direction toward the second passage. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the separation member comprises an elastically deformable diaphragm. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the separation member defines a peripheral edge that extends substantially to an interior surface portion of the container. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 5 , wherein a portion of the separation member is configured to contact another interior surface portion of the container when the device is in an upright position and is configured to move away from the other interior surface portion when the device is at least partially inverted. 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 6 , wherein the portion of the separation member is configured to move away from the other interior surface portion in response to pressure of the product. 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 6 , wherein the portion of the separation member configured to come into contact with the other interior surface portion of the container is an annular portion radially separated from the peripheral edge of the separation member. 
     
     
       9. The device of  claim 6 , wherein the other interior surface portion is a shoulder defined by the container. 
     
     
       10. The device of  claim 4 , wherein the diaphragm is made of a material chosen from thermoplastic elastomers and crosslinked elastomers. 
     
     
       11. The device of  claim 10 , wherein the diaphragm is made of a material chosen from silicones, natural laftices, synthetic latices, EPDMs, polyurethanes, blends of polypropylene and SIBS, blends of polypropylene and SEBS, blends of polypropylene and EPDM, very-low-density polyethylenes, blends based on polyester glycols, blends based on polyether glycols, and flexible polyvinyl chlorides. 
     
     
       12. The device of  claim 5 , wherein the separation member has a thickness that decreases toward the peripheral edge. 
     
     
       13. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the separation member is inclined in a downward direction toward the retaining element. 
     
     
       14. The device of  claim 13 , wherein the separation member forms an angle ranging from approximately 60 degrees to approximately 90 degrees with a longitudinal axis of the device. 
     
     
       15. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the retaining element and the separation member are molded together as a single piece. 
     
     
       16. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the retaining element comprises a tubular member having a closed end defining a bottom of the cavity when the device is in an upright position and having an end opposite the closed end being mounted proximate an edge of the opening of the container. 
     
     
       17. The device of  claim 16 , wherein the end opposite the closed end defines an opening. 
     
     
       18. The device of  claim 16 , further comprising a pump associated with a dip tube, the dip tube extending to proximate the bottom of the cavity. 
     
     
       19. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises a neck portion and wherein the retaining element extends over at least part of its height within the neck portion. 
     
     
       20. The device of  claim 19 , wherein the neck portion comprises a free edge that defines the opening of the container. 
     
     
       21. The device of  claim 19 , further comprising a pump configured to be mounted in the neck portion. 
     
     
       22. The device of  claim 21 , further comprising a band configured to mount the pump in the neck portion, the band being configured to engage with the neck portion by one of snap-fastening and screw-fastening. 
     
     
       23. The device of  claim 21 , further comprising an actuation member for actuating the pump. 
     
     
       24. The device of  claim 23 , wherein the actuation member comprises a push-button. 
     
     
       25. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the separation member extends radially outward from the retaining element. 
     
     
       26. The device of  claim 25 , wherein the separation member is substantially planar. 
     
     
       27. The device of  claim 25 , wherein the separation member is a solid member. 
     
     
       28. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first passage and the at least one second passage are disposed on opposite sides of the separation member. 
     
     
       29. The device of  claim 1 , further comprising the product in the container. 
     
     
       30. The device of  claim 29 , wherein the product is chosen from a cosmetic product and a care product. 
     
     
       31. The device of  claim 29 , wherein the product is intended to be applied to at least one of skin, hair, fingernails, and toenails. 
     
     
       32. A method of dispensing a product, the method comprising: 
       providing the device of  claim 1 ;  
       flowing product into the cavity; and  
       dispensing the product from the cavity.  
     
     
       33. The method of  claim 32 , wherein the dispensing of the product from the cavity comprises dispensing substantially all of the product within the cavity. 
     
     
       34. The method of  claim 32 , wherein the flowing of the product into the cavity comprises flowing the product into the cavity via the second passage. 
     
     
       35. The method of  claim 34 , wherein the flowing of the product into the cavity comprises flowing the product into the cavity via the first passage. 
     
     
       36. The method of  claim 32 , wherein the flowing of the product into the cavity comprises flowing product from the second region of the container through the second passage. 
     
     
       37. The method of  claim 32 , wherein the flowing of the product into the cavity comprises inverting the device. 
     
     
       38. The method of  claim 37 , further comprising forming a third passage between the first region and the second region. 
     
     
       39. The method of  claim 38 , further comprising flowing the product from the first region into the second region via the third passage. 
     
     
       40. The method of  claim 33 , further comprising flowing excess product out of the cavity via the first passage prior to dispensing the product from the cavity. 
     
     
       41. A dispensing head for dispensing product from a container, the dispensing head comprising: 
       a tubular member defining a cavity configured to contain an amount of product to be dispensed; and  
       a separation member extending radially from the tubular member and being configured to substantially separate a first region of the container from a second region of the container when the dispensing head is associated with the container and the container is in an upright position,  
       wherein the tubular member defines at least one first passage configured to permit flow of product therethrough and at least one second passage configured to permit flow of product therethrough, the at least one first passage and the at least one second passage being disposed on opposite sides of the separation member.  
     
     
       42. The dispensing head of  claim 41 , wherein the tubular member comprises a closed end defining a bottom of the cavity when the dispensing head is associated with the container and the container is in an upright position. 
     
     
       43. The dispensing head of  claim 41 , wherein the tubular member has an edge defining an opening configured to at least partially receive a dispensing mechanism. 
     
     
       44. The dispensing head of  claim 43 , further comprising the dispensing mechanism, wherein the dispensing mechanism comprises a pump. 
     
     
       45. The dispensing head of  claim 44 , wherein the dispensing mechanism further comprises a dip tube, the dip tube extending to proximate an end of the tubular member opposite the opening. 
     
     
       46. The dispensing head of  claim 45 , wherein the end of the tubular member opposite the opening is closed and defines a bottom of the cavity when the dispensing head is associated with the container and the container is in an upright position. 
     
     
       47. The dispensing head of  claim 41 , wherein the separation member comprises a diaphragm. 
     
     
       48. The dispensing head of  claim 47 , wherein the diaphragm is made of a flexible material. 
     
     
       49. The dispensing head of  claim 48 , wherein the diaphragm is made of a material chosen from thermoplastic elastomers and crosslinked elastomers. 
     
     
       50. The dispensing head of  claim 49 , wherein the diaphragm is made of a material chosen from silicones, natural lattices, synthetic latices, EPDMs, polyurethanes, blends of polypropylene and SIBS, blends of polypropylene and SEBS, blends of polypropylene and EPDM, very-low-density polyethylenes, blends based on polyester glycols, blends based on polyether glycols, and flexible polyvinyl chlorides. 
     
     
       51. The dispensing head of  claim 41 , wherein the separation member has a thickness that decreases toward a peripheral edge of the separation member. 
     
     
       52. The dispensing head of  claim 41 , wherein the separation member slopes downward in a direction toward the tubular member. 
     
     
       53. The dispensing head of  claim 52 , wherein the separation member forms an angle ranging from approximately 60 degrees to approximately 90 degrees with a longitudinal axis of the tubular member. 
     
     
       54. The dispensing head of  claim 41 , wherein the tubular member and the separation member are molded together as a single piece. 
     
     
       55. The dispensing head of  claim 41 , wherein at least a portion of the separation member is flexible. 
     
     
       56. The dispensing head of  claim 55 , wherein the separation member is configured to flex so as to permit product flow communication between the first region and the second region of the container when the dispensing head is associated with the container and the container is in an at least partially inverted position. 
     
     
       57. The dispensing head of  claim 55 , wherein at least the portion of the separation member is configured to pivot with respect to the tubular member in response to sufficient pressure acting on the separation member. 
     
     
       58. The dispensing head of  claim 41 , further comprising a band configured to engage with a neck portion of the container for mounting the dispensing head on the container. 
     
     
       59. The dispensing head of  claim 58 , wherein the band is configured to engage the neck portion via one of snap-fastening and screw-fastening. 
     
     
       60. The dispensing head of  claim 41 , wherein an annular region of the separation member is configured to contact an interior wall surface of the container when the dispensing head is associated with the container and the container is in an upright position. 
     
     
       61. The dispensing head of  claim 60 , wherein the annular region of the separation member is radially separated from a peripheral edge of the separation member. 
     
     
       62. The dispensing head of  claim 60 , wherein the annular region is configured to move out of contact with the interior wall surface of the container when the dispensing head is associated with the container and the container is in an at least partially inverted position. 
     
     
       63. The dispensing head of  claim 41 , further comprising a third passage defined at least partially by the separation member when the dispensing head is associated with the container and the container is in an at least partially inverted position, the third passage being configured to flow product from the first region to the second region. 
     
     
       64. The dispensing head of  claim 41 , wherein the separation member is substantially planar. 
     
     
       65. The dispensing head of  claim 41 , wherein the separation member is a solid member. 
     
     
       66. An assembly for dispensing a product, the assembly comprising: 
       a container configured to contain a product to be dispensed; and  
       the dispensing head of  claim 41  mounted on the container.  
     
     
       67. The assembly of  claim 66 , further comprising a product in the container. 
     
     
       68. The assembly of  claim 67 , wherein the product is chosen from a cosmetic product and a care product. 
     
     
       69. The assembly of  claim 67 , wherein the product is intended to be applied to at least one of skin, hair, fingernails, and toenails. 
     
     
       70. The assembly of  claim 66 , wherein the container comprises a neck portion and the dispensing head is mounted at least partially on the neck portion. 
     
     
       71. The assembly of  claim 66 , wherein the container comprises an internal shoulder against which the separation member is configured to abut when the container is in the upright position. 
     
     
       72. The assembly of  claim 66 , wherein the at least one first passage is in flow communication with the first region and the at least one second passage is in flow communication with the second region. 
     
     
       73. A method of dispensing a product, the method comprising: 
       providing the assembly of  claim 66 ;  
       flowing product into the cavity; and  
       dispensing the product from the cavity.  
     
     
       74. The method of  claim 73 , wherein the first region of the container is below the separation member and the second region of the container is above the separation member when the container is in an upright position. 
     
     
       75. The method of  claim 73 , wherein the dispensing of the product from the cavity comprises dispensing substantially all of the product within the cavity. 
     
     
       76. The method of  claim 73 , wherein the flowing of the product into the cavity comprises flowing the product into the cavity via the second passage. 
     
     
       77. The method of  claim 76 , wherein the flowing of the product into the cavity comprises flowing the product into the cavity via the first passage. 
     
     
       78. The method of  claim 73 , wherein the flowing of the product into the cavity comprises flowing product from the second region of the container through the second passage. 
     
     
       79. The method of  claim 73 , further comprising inverting the container. 
     
     
       80. The method of  claim 79 , further comprising forming a third passage between the first region and the second region. 
     
     
       81. The method of  claim 80 , further comprising flowing the product from the first region into the second region via the third passage. 
     
     
       82. The method of  claim 73 , further comprising flowing excess product out of the cavity via the first passage prior to dispensing the product from the cavity.